After a much-needed bye week, the San Angelo Stampede Express return to the San Angelo Coliseum tonight to host the Austin Turfcats.

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, head coach Clint Dolezel says the bye week could not have come at a better time.

The Stampede (7-4) fell to the conference-leading Amarillo Venom 66-41 on May 15, followed by a 42-35 loss to the Wichita Wild last week after leading 35-21 entering the fourth quarter.

"We knew that was going to be a tough stretch," Dolezel said. "After basically 13 weeks of football with no rest, it was good timing for a bye."

Dolezel feels the wear and tear the team has endured throughout the season began to show as the Wichita game slipped through the Stampede's grasp.

"We felt like we were definitely the better football team," he said. "We kind of got out of character, for three and a half quarters we had played pretty good football.

"I think we finally just got worn down a little bit late in that fourth quarter, so the bye week, like I said came at a really good time."

With a playoff spot secured, the Stampede now look to close out the final three games of the season as they jockey for seeding.

Two of the games will be played at the Coliseum where the Stampede have won four of their last five games in front of the home crowd.

"If we win two of the three, that's probably going to put us at the fourth seed with a home field playoff game," Dolezel said. "That's what our goal is and we're looking to have a good strong finish and be healthy going into the playoffs.

The Turfcats (2-9) enter tonight's game with a deceptive record, four of their losses have been by an average of just six points.

They split two of their regular-season meetings with Lone Star East division-leading Arkansas, taking the first meeting 31-29 and falling just short in the second 21-16.

"We know it's not going to be an easy road," Dolezel said. "Austin took Arkansas down to the last second. They easily could have beaten them.

"They definitely have not thrown in the towel and they are playing good football."

San Angelo won the first meeting in Austin 52-27, but the Turfcats have made some roster moves that will present a new set of challenges for the Stampede.

The most significant change will be at quarterback, where 6-foot-4, 265-pound quarterback Deron Ellis now leads the Turfcats offense.

"He's definitely a better passer than the quarterback they had," Dolezel said. "Not quite as good as a scrambler, but in this game you have to be able to pass the ball to have success and he can do that.

"I think they have also improved defensively. We have to take care of the ball on offense and find ways to pressure the new quarterback."

Dolezel says the main emphasis of the bye week was to give the team time to heal and recharge.

He says the Stampede responded well and are geared up to go another seven weeks as they begin their quest for the Indoor Football League Championship beginning tonight.